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How νόμου Works in Romans 3:21
A focused form insight on Noun Genitive Singular Masculine in Romans 3:21.
Romans 3:21 - BSB
But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets.
The Question
How does νόμου function in Romans 3:21?
Short Answer
νόμου is a Noun Genitive Singular Masculine in Romans 3:21. The grammar sharpens the contrast in the verse by showing that righteousness is revealed apart from law as the basis of that revelation, while still being attested by law and prophets.
What the Form Is Doing
νόμου appears in Romans 3:21 as a Noun Genitive Singular Masculine. It functions as the object of the separation idea and contributes to the contrast between God's righteousness and law as a basis for that revelation.
The genitive with χωρὶς marks distance or apartness, so the sentence says God's righteousness has now been revealed apart from law as the operative basis, while still being witnessed by law and the prophets.
Why It Matters for Interpretation
The grammar sharpens the contrast in the verse by showing that righteousness is revealed apart from law as the basis of that revelation, while still being attested by law and prophets.
The genitive after χωρὶς supports the key contrast between righteousness apart from law and witness by the law and prophets.
Translation Effect
The form directly supports wording such as apart from law.
The form guide should support the public Bible reading, not replace it with a private rendering.
What It Does Not Prove
Do not infer that the form alone decides every theological use of law, or that it cancels law's witness, value, or covenantal role.
Grammatical form should serve context, not override it.
Genitive case here signals relationship and separation, but it does not by itself settle every theological question about law.
Evidence from the Form Guide
The witness reads νόμου in Romans 3:21, within the clause νυνὶ δὲ χωρὶς νόμου δικαιοσύνη Θεοῦ πεφανέρωται, μαρτυρουμένη ὑπὸ τοῦ νόμου καὶ τῶν προφητῶν.
For teaching, the form helps readers hear both distinction and continuity: apart from law as a ground, but not apart from the witness of the law.
What It Does Not Prove
- Do not infer that the form alone decides every theological use of law, or that it cancels law's witness, value, or covenantal role.
- Grammatical form should serve context, not override it.
- Genitive case here signals relationship and separation, but it does not by itself settle every theological question about law.
- Masculine grammatical gender is a language feature, not a theological gender claim.